The midweek round of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) brought numerous big-name absentees that forced most managers to rely on their substitutes.
Bukayo Saka (£9.0m) was left out of Arsenal’s squad against Luton, while Erling Haaland (£14.3m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£10.3m) were not needed from the bench due to Phil Foden’s (£8.1m) hat-trick.
Such an eventful matchday is quickly being followed by Gameweek 32.
So this time, we’re looking at a few differentials who can skyrocket teams high up the rankings and mini-leagues.
Frustratingly, the current template squad is so highly owned that it is becoming very difficult to gain from individual player successes.
With this in mind, here are a few suggestions from Fantasy Football Scout about which under-the-radar players could do some glorious things at the weekend.
Brennan Johnson (£5.8m)
When making well-calculated punts during this season’s final stretch, the form of Johnson should come into consideration.
The one per cent-owned midfielder has produced four goals and four assists from his most recent nine outings, despite starting only a handful of them.
A cameo versus Luton, for example, saw the Welshman enter at half-time and assist twice to overturn a 1-0 deficit. On Tuesday, several days later, he was rewarded with a start at West Ham and quickly gave them the lead.
It should ensure that Johnson begins against his former club Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Antoine Semenyo (£4.5m)
Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz (£4.7m) isn’t the only budget forward doing well.
With Double Gameweek 34 on the horizon for Bournemouth, FPL managers might find it beneficial to have an in-form, cheap name that can rotate in when needed but also allow the budget to be spread elsewhere.
Semenyo scored four goals in five matches between Gameweeks 25 and 28, including two past this weekend’s opponents Luton. Illness may have restricted the Ghanaian to a midweek cameo but he still found time to assist the winning goal.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.7m)
Finally, the attacking form of Ait-Nouri - an FPL defender currently being deployed as a winger - is receiving attention.
By nodding home against Burnley, he registered his second goal from three matches, a period where he has racked up five shots on target and four big chances.
Arguably, he should have netted a second past the Clarets, storming into the six-yard box only to see his shot saved. Another huge, close-range miss occurred in Gameweek 30 too.
The Wolves star is owned by just 4.4 per cent of managers and has an upcoming Double Gameweek 34.
